Thug left OAP with broken ribs and collapsed lung after barging into his Dundee home

A thug who barged his way into a OAP’s home and subjected him to a violent attack that left him with broken ribs and a collapsed lung has been jailed for two years.

Alan Waterston turned up at Ian Beat’s door in Whitfield Rise thinking he was at a friend’s home nearby.

When Mr Beat — who served in the army for five years — answered, Waterston forced himself inside and a struggle ensued.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Waterston’s attack had a “devastating” impact on the 69-year-old’s life.

Alan Waterston

Fiscal depute Vicki Bell said Mr Beat — who described his attacker as “scum” — managed to escape from the house into the garden, with Waterston left locked in until police arrived.

She said: “The complainer was found bleeding and struggling to breathe. The accused was still within the property, extremely agitated and shouting. Police set up a cordon.

“The accused, who was under the influence, eventually opened a window and was pulled out.

“An ambulance was called and the complainer was taken to hospital having suffered a number of injuries.

“That included a punctured and collapsed lung and two fractured ribs. A chest drain was inserted to remove fluid from the lung and he was in hospital for several days, during which time he contracted pneumonia.

“It is fair to say this has had a devastating impact on his life. He still experiences physical pain and psychological impacts.”

Waterston, 27, of Ballindean Road, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Beat on February 26 last year.

“He had been drinking, his personal problems had got on top of him and this was a bizarre, inexplicable attendance at this house thinking it was his friend’s door, which is a similar house in the vicinity.”

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said: “I can’t look past the fact that, while you were heavily intoxicated, you forced your way into the home of a 69-year-old man and struggled with him, causing him a broken rib and a collapsed lung.

“The victim impact statement shows this has had a very traumatic impact on him, then and now. There is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”